Five points

September 7, 2021

For a few days I have been about to write this, but the time never appears. This is my very personal opinion of what is happening in Cuba right now. I will try to be as specific as possible.

First, make it clear that the Cuban people (including the many who took to the streets shouting FREEDOM, those who still do so in one way or another, and those who do not do so out of fear) do not have any ideological problem, nor do they work for the CIA, nor are they mercenaries, nor are they stateless, nor are they any other term invented by the Cuban dictatorship to discredit them. In Cuba today (and for 62 years) there is simply a situation of abuse of power. The heirs of the "revolutionaries" who seized power in 1959 and promised villas and Castillas (and never delivered) have decided to do whatever they have to do to continue imposing their will on Cuba and thus guarantee their exalted lifestyle and that of your families.

We must clarify (because perhaps many people do not understand it) that governments serve the people and not the other way around. A public official is not the owner of a business. A public official is due to his voters, to the needs of that majority, and they have (or should have) every right to simply replace that official with another. If a radical right governed Cuba today, the people would still have taken to the streets and would have asked for the same thing. That is why I think it is important to understand that it is not an ideology that motivates the Cuban people to demonstrate and demand their rights, but the desire to free themselves from a government (so to speak) that does not represent them.

Second, the people of Cuba are orphans. I remember being in Cuba hearing many friends say "what is needed is for the Americans to come now." That's not gonna happen.

The United States has zero interest in the island, and as many have already noticed, they have not been around for a long time to spend taxpayer money to fix the lives of others, who most of the time do not appreciate it. They have learned from bad experiences.

For the rest of the world, well, what can I say: the Russians continue to play with us (always saving us in bad times so that we don't cross sides and thus guarantee the survival of that phantom called "Missile Crisis 2.0"), the Europeans the same (taking care of their Meliá, their Batabanó lobsters and their hot little beach in winter, because they know that in a free Cuba all that is up to the Yumas), the Chinese are already bored of lending and that they don't get paid (but still there fucking and training to the repressors), and the rest of the world the same, always happy to have good doctors paying 3 cents.

In short, disgusting, like everything in politics: the important thing is the interests and the people who manage as best they can.

The only brother of the people of Cuba is the people of Cuba themselves who are not in Cuba (rather a part of them) and some other good people who only want a better future for us.

Third, the Cuban dictatorship despises the Cuban, but depends on him. He calls those of us who live abroad worms, but he feeds on the remittances we send. Those who go out and carry merchandise are called mules and resellers, but without them there would be nothing in Cuba (no clothes, no shoes, no medicine, nothing). Everything is confiscated from those who try to start or produce food, and with that they fill their bellies and get dressed. Those who have to live on their salary (what a chimera) are controlled, they give them crumbs, they take the juice out of them. They threaten them with sanctions or kick them out if they don't go to a march, if they don't put a "revolutionary" post on Facebook, if they don't go to the act of repudiation.

This last group is the Achilles heel of the system, the foundation on which power stands. For this reason, when many of them came out on July 11 to claim their rights, the state reacted as usual, like an abusive husband, handing out sticks left and right, so they don't forget who's boss in the house.

But that cost him the marriage. Divorce proceedings are already underway. But you know, those things take time.

Fourth, the shutdown is just a business. Although in principle the decision to close the airports is motivated by the desire to control the pandemic, subsequent events show that other interests have emerged. When the pandemic was still fairly controlled, they decided to close most of the flights, especially those coming from the United States. Shortly after they open up to Russian tourism and fill Varadero with them, to continue making tickets, but things get complicated when they (and probably also the Indians who work in the tourist works) import the Delta variant and complicate the national epidemiological panorama.

At this point many Cubans from abroad offered help but the dictatorship did not agree. Of course, for months they had a very well created package delivery infrastructure (which is not such). In many of the food delivery sites (especially those that made the fastest deliveries) you could - and still can - find national products, most of them made in state or military companies (if it is not the same thing), and in FAR farms, all at extremely high prices and in dollars, of course. Many of these shipping agencies are based in the US and Canada, and with a simple search on the internet you can see that in some cases their owners have ties to the Cuban leadership. In short, round business.

A few days ago, the US began negotiations to send aid to Cuba. They are still waiting for the Cuban authorities to authorize the flights.

Oh, and I forgot, Cubans residing abroad who travel to Cuba - and nationals who return - have to isolate themselves in a hotel, paying out of pocket in foreign currency (which nationals do not charge). First it was a few days. Now it's 15 days, they don't do PCR when you arrive, and you have to pay for the package in advance or they won't let you get on the plane. As I said, round business.

And fifth, and finally, our future as a people depends solely on us. I believe that each town has its karma and we, stubborn Cubans, have not just learned.

That mistaken idea that the strong man came to fix the problem must be eradicated. No man deserves to decide the future of a people.

Although I understand that leaders are needed to lead the changes that our Homeland requires, we cannot wait for a savior to come and give us a free Cuba. Only the coordination, contribution, creativity and effort of all will be able to achieve the materialization of our dream of a Cuba with all and for the good of all. It is true that it is not an easy task, and that is precisely why we all have to take part.

The power that controls Cuba today is neither socialist, nor communist, nor capitalist, it is simply destructive and unproductive. Neither those who believe in it live well, nor the police, nor the military, nor the doctors, nor the artists, nor the workers, nor the peasants, but only those who are in power. If in 62 years they have not been able to build prosperity they will never do it, they have had time.

I know it won't be easy, they're not going to leave for good, but it has to be done, the Cuban people can no longer take so much abuse. A dignified life has a price, and it is time to pay it. A free Cuba will benefit everyone.

Who wants to say what they feel, do it. Whoever wants to do it from a fake profile, do it. Whoever is afraid and does not want to risk being arrested or beaten, it is his right. But please do not support the one who is depriving you of having a decent life.

Freedom lives within. Mandela being imprisoned was freer than any of his jailers. The day that each Cuban feels free within himself, that day we will already have won the real battle.

For all those who have read this far, including those who disagree with me, I want to make it clear that my only wish is for every Cuban to live with dignity, prosperity and happiness, regardless of how they think. That is the Cuba that I want, and since it is for the good of all, it is up to all of us to build it.

I share this book here that I think can shed some light and good ideas. I haven't read it. It was referenced in a documentary I saw. But I think our case also applies to the solutions you propose.

https://www.sedh.gob.hn/documentos-recientes/59-de-la-dictadura-a-la-democracia-un-sistema-conceptual-para-la-liberaci%C3%B3n/file

Have a great week everyone, and take care of yourselves.